Code finding key



July 20, 1937. H. ABRAMSl 2,087,423

' 'CODE FINDING KEY Filed June 195e 2 sheets-sheet 1 34 l 34"'1 3]{mijl-3 '55 a l raiz j j .n i A LL- U H |-I l Ii ,Vy/7M 6. 37 33 INVENTOR. BY bbw/,4R0 ABH/QMS ATTORNEY.

JulyZO, 1937. H. ABRAMS CODE FINDING KEY Filed June 27, 1936 2Sheets-Sheet 2 NHG ATTORNEY.

Patented July 20, 1937 UNITED STATES FATENT FICE CODE FINDING KEYApplication June 27, 1936, Serial No. 87,759

11 Claims.

This invention relates to master keys having indicia thereon forindicating the code of keys for cylinder locks, and particularly to keyshaving at least one at side unbroken by longitudinal grooves or ridges.

One ofthe objects of this invention is to provide an apparatus that canbe easily and speedily manipulated to open a cylinder'lock without itskey when the code of the lock is not otherwise discernible.

Another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus of the abovementioned character which will indicate they code of a cylinder lock sothat a key can be made from the code thus ascertained.

A further object is to provide an implement of the character mentionedthat will be accurate, dependable, and which will not damage or breakthe lock. These and other features of my invention are more fully setforth hereinafter', reference being made to the accompanying drawings inwhich like parts are designated by like reference characters, and inwhich:

Figure 1 is a front view of a cylinder lock.

Figure 2 is a plan view of a key suitable for the type of lock shown inthe Figure 1.

l Figure 3 is a vertical cross-section of the key taken along the linesIII-III of the Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a vertical section of the lock taken along the lines IV--IVof the Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a vertical section of the same lock with the key of Figure2, inserted therein.

Figure 6 is a side view of the device with portions broken away to showconstruction and assembly.

Figure '7 is a side View of the barrel.

Figurer8 is a rear end view of the barrel.

Figure 9 is a front end view of the barrel.

Figure 10 is a side view of the barrel holder.

Figur-e 11 is an end view of the barrel holder showing code indicia.

Figure 12Y is a side view of the code pointer and pointer sleeve.

Figure 13 is an end view of the code pointer and sleeve. l

Figure 14 is a side sectional view of the elongated nut.

Figure 15 is a side View of the slide.

Figure 16 is a front view of the shim and shim adapter.

Figure 17 is a side view of the shim and shim its initial engagementwith a cylinder lock.

Figure is an end view of theapparatus showing the code pointerdesignating the code of th rst tumbler. Y

Figures 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, and 28, are views similar to thoseof Figures 19 and 20, illustrating the subsequent steps in the operationof the device. Y

As conducive to a clearer understanding of certain features of myinvention, it may at this point be noted that locksmiths are frequentlycalled upon to t a key to a cylinder lock-operating mechanism andaccording to certain past practice such fitting of a new key has beenall too greatly facilitated by the fact that the lock mechanism itselfhas in many instances been stamped with the code numbers of thecorresponding keys. While this has facilitated the work of thelocksmith, it has at the same time made all too readily available tounauthorized persons the exact information from which a key to fit thatparticular lock can be reproduced inasmuch as it is a relatively simplematter to cut the necessary depths of notches in a cylinder key wherethe code nurnber for that key is known. This deficiency has particularlymade itself felt in the automobile eld.

In accordance with certain features of my invention, I avoid thenecessity of having to stamp the key code number on the lock mechanismitself and I have provided a method and apparatus for determining thekey code number from the lock mechanism so that the flagrant display ofthe code number on the lock mechanism itself is not at all necessary. Incase a new key has to be provided, my invention provides a convenientmethod and apparatus for determining the code number of the key to suitthat lock. However, when a key is merely temporarily unavailable or whena new key is not needed my device will also open the lock without theinterjection or use of additional apparatus.

Referring to the drawings there is shown in ythe Figures 1, 4, and`5,the type of cylinder lock to which my device is applicable. In theseviews I show a door 3i, in which a lock case 32 is attached. Within thecase 32, is a cylinder 33, which is revolvable when all of the tumblers34, are set in a certain predetermined formation or alignment by acorrectly tting key. The tumblers 34, are severable at various pointsand are made up of pins known as the upper or drive pins, and lowerpins'. Each tumbler is pressed downward in the caseI 32, and into thecylinder 33, by a small coil spring. The Figure 4. shows the pins ortumblers 34, out of alignment; that is, their approximate positions whenthe lock is closed, or when a non-fitting key is inserted into the keyslot 35.

When a correctly fitting key such as the one shown in Figure 2, isinserted the tumblers 34, take the positions indicated in Figure 5, andthe breaks between the upper and lower pins are in line with theperiphery of the cylinder 33, and come within the space between the case32, and the cylinder 33, indicated by character 55.

The key shaft 31, is ordinarily divided into five stations as indicatedin Figure 2. The shaft 31, at each station is cut to a different depthso as to raise or lower the tumbler pins to different levels inaccordance With the code of the particular lock. In the drawings Figure2, the rst station is coded to the level four in order to raise thetumbler 34a to the position shown in Figure 5. The second station iscoded to the level two in order to raise the tumbler 3413, to theposition indicated. Similarly the third, fourth and iifth stations ofthe shaft 31, are coded to correspond with the code of the tumblers 34o,34d, and 34e, respectively.

Figure 3, is an enlarged View of a section of the key shaft 31, asviewed along the lines III-III, of Figure 2. In this View the key shaftis shown as having one flat side, and this is the type of key for whichmy device can be substituted.

Having thus described the type of lock operable by my invention I shallnow proceed to describe the apparatus constituting the invention whichwill open a lock similar to the one shown in Figures 1 and 4, withoutthe use of a key, and which device will also at the same time reveal thecode of the lock thus opened.

Figure 6, shows the apparatus with certain parts cut away. In this viewthere is shown a barrel 1; a holder ID, attached to the barrel 1, by theset screw 4| an elongated nut I4 within the barrel 1; a hat slide I5,within the nut I4; a pointer I2, and pointer sleeve I3, attached to thenut I4, and a shim I8, and shim adapter I6, slidably attached to thebarrel 1.

The barrel 1, is made of a tubular piece of metal and has a recess orbore 38, in one end; a guide 3S, at the end opposite the recess; alongitudinal slot 4D, extending from the recess 38, to the guide 39,andindicia A marked on the outside of the barrel. The guide 39, isL-shaped, has a tapered or pointed end 42, and is also L-shaped incrosssection as indicated in the Figures 8 and 9.

rl'he holder I0, is a knurled knob drilled to receive the unthreaded endof the nut I4, and has a recess or bore 43, for engaging the bored endof the barrel 1. The flat. circular face of the holder I9, is marked asindicated in the drawings Figure 11, with indicia B.

The pointer I2, and the pointer sleeve I3,.are rmly fastenedtogether, orare made of one piece of metal. The two parts together are attached tothe nut I4, by a pin or set screw so that the nut I 4,7,may be revolvedinside the barrel 1, by turning the sleeve I3. The pointer I 2, isadjacent to the flat face ofthe holder I0, and readable on the indiciaB. A portion of the sleeve I3, is knurled to facilitate handling andmanipulating by the operator of the device. f

The elongated nut I4, is preferably made of tubular brass. lIt consistsof a threaded section 35, with a rather Vwide pitch and thread at oneend, a small collar 44, which nts into the counter-bore 45, of thebarrel 1, and an aperture 46, through which the stem 41, of the slideI5, moves.

Y The slide I5, is a ilat piece of metal preferablyV made of hardenedsteel. Its shape is substantially the same as that shown in the Figure15. It consists of a stem 41, having indicia C, at the extreme rightend; a plurality of teeth 48, which are actuated or engaged by thethreaded end 35, of the nut I4; a stop 49, projecting upwardly from theend of the stem 41, opposite the indicia C; a narrow extension or nger50, extending forward below the stop 49, andslightly lower than the stem41, but parallel thereto. The end of the finger 59, has a smalltriangular tip or pick 5I, -the slanting sides of which actuate thetumblers 34, oi the lock.

The pick 5I, slides in the slot 40, and on the guide 39, of thebarrel 1. By the forward or backward manipulation of the pick 5 I,within the keyhole slot 36, the tumblers 34, are consecutively raised orlowered to points where the breaks between the upper and lower pins aredirectly in line with the space 55, between the case 32, and cylinder33, of the lock.

The top of the pick 50, indicated as point 5Ia, in the Figure 15,corresponds with the level of code one of station ve of the key shown inthel Figure 2; the point indicated as 5Ib, corresponds with the level ofcode two, station two; the point indicated as 5Ic, corresponds with thelevel of code three, station four; the point indicated as 5Id,corresponds with the level of code four, station one, and the bottom ofthe incline or point 51e, corresponds with the level of code ve, stationthree. It will be thus seen that when, by manipulating the tumblers 34,by the pick 5I, and raising them to the points a, b, c, d, or e, as thecode of the particular tumbler requires each tumbler may be individuallyset at its open or break line position.

Inasmuch as all the tumblers 34, are required to be set at the openposition at the same time, and which the pick 5I, by itself can not do,there is provided a shim I8, and a shim holder I5, to accomplish thispurpose.

The shim I8, is a piece of hard, stiff steel .001 of an inch inthickness. It is somewhat T-shaped in design and fits into the adapterIB, with its narrow end 52, projecting outward. The narrow end 52, isslightly curved to conform to the space 55. The shim I8, has a smallhole 53, which fits over a small pin 54, inside the adapter I6. The shimadapter I6, is slidable on the barrel 1, andthe shim I8, can thereforebe moved forward into the space 55, of the lock and as each tumbler 34,is raised to its open position the narrow end 52, of the shim isprogressively inserted between` the upper and lower pins of theparticular tumbler. In this manner each of the tumblers 34a, 34h, 34o,34d, and 34e, are consecutively unlocked and held in the open positionuntil the cylinder 33, is ready to be turned. Upon the pick 5I, reachingthe last tumbler 34e, the lock can be opened without moving the shim I8,between the pins, for at that tumbler the pick 5I, acts as a key.

The stop 49, on the slide I5, when barred by the pin 54, in the adapterI6, prevents the pick 5I, from moving outwardly of the lock. 'This isnecessaryV to prevent the lower pins of the tumblers 34, from damagingor puncturing the end 52, of the shim.

The pin 54, in the adapter I5, serves several purposes. It retains theshim I8, within the adapter I6, it acts as a bar for the stop 49, andalso slides within the groove or slot 40, longitudinally and preventsthe shim adapter I6, from turning on the barrel 1.

To operate the `device the pointer I2, is turnedl tok on the barrel 1,until it is on the quadrant of indicia B and designating code one, andthe end 'I, of the sleeve I3, is on the section one of indicia C. Theside 58, of the adapter I6, will then read on section Zero of indicia A.Next, the guide 39, together with the pick 5 I, is inserted into thekeyhole 36, so that the forward end of the barrel l, is in close contactwith the :face of the lock case 32. The shim adapter I5, is movedforward so that the curved shim I8, slides into the space 55, and stopsat the rst tumbler 34a, which tumbler bars its further insertion. Atthis stage the lower part of the bottoml pin o the tumbler 34a, rests onthe point a, of the pin 5I. The pointer I2, is then turned clockwise onthe indicia B, to the second quadrant which turning causes the screwthread 35, of the nut I4, and the teeth 4B, of slide I5, to propel thepick 5I7 slightly forward so that the bottom of the tumbler rests uponpoint b, of the pick 5I, and as the shim I8, is still barred to furtherinsertion the pointer I2, is turned to the third, and then to the fourthquadrant as indicated in the Figure 20, at which latter point the shimI8, will divide the tumbler 34a, and slide between the upper and lowerpins of this tumbler until stopped by the next tumbler 34o. The tumbler34a., at that time rests upon point d, of the pick 5I. The operator thenknows by noting the indicia C, that pick 5I, is touching the tumbler34a, or is at the first station; by noting the indicia B, the operatorthen knows that the first station has a four depth or code, and bynoting the indicia A, that the rst station is unlocked.

'I'he operator then turns the pointer I2, in the same clockwisedirection to the line of indicia B, marking the first quadrant, andrepeats the process; that is, the pointer l2, is turned clockwise to thesecond quadrant as indicated in Figure 22, dropping the tumbler 36h, tothe point h, on the pick 5 I and as this second tumbler 34h, in stationtwo is coded to a two unit depth' the break in the tumbler 32h, will bein line with the space 55, and the end 52, of the shim will slidebetween the upper and lower pins of the tumblers 34a., and 34h, untilstopped by the tumbler 34e. Similarly the operator then knows fromindicia C, that the pick is at the station two, that the code of thestation two is two units, and that the end of the shim is between thefirst and second tumblers.

The aforementioned steps are repeated for each of the tumblers 340, 34d,and 34e, in consecutive order until all of the tumblers are held in theopen position by the shim I8, at which time the cylinder may turn in thecase 32. The Figures 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, and 28, illustrate thesubsequent three stages of the operation forunlocking and decoding thelock simultaneously.

In the event a new key is desired to be tted to the lock, the operatormerely notes the code of each station as he manipulates the apparatusand with the code thus ascertained a blank key can be cut to correspondtherewith.

It will be noted in Figure 11, that the code indicator or indicia B, hasone and the same quadrant line for designating code depths one and ve.This is for the reason that one complete revolution of the pointer I2,will propel the pointer 5I, under a, particular tumbler the distancefrom point 5m, to point 5Ie.

Now if for some reason, such as a lock being new and the tumbler pinshard to operate with the shim I8, and a particular tumbler is not pickedthe rst time at some one of the five levels during one completerevolution of the pointer I2,

the pointer I2 must then be turned backwards or Y counterclockwise andthe shim I8 gently pushed forward until a faint click is heard or thebreaking point of the tumbler felt by the operator, at which time bycareful manipulation, the end 52 of the shim can be moved forward as in.the regular manner. If the pointer I2, in such instance is not turnedback or counterclockwise, but is turned clockwise instead, the pick 5I,will then move forward in an attempt to decode the next tumbler withouthaving unlocked or decoded the one previous. However, the operator bykeeping the indicia A and the indicia C, in corresponding adjacentpositions this error can be avoided.

It will now be clear that I have provided a tool of the characterdescribed which will accomplish the objects of the inventionhereinbefore stated. It is to be understood that the embodiment of theinvention herein disclosed is merely illustrative and is not to beconsidered in a limiting sense as various changes may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention. It is, therefore, understoodthat the device may be modified to accommodate locks having more or lessthan five tumblers, and which may be opened by keys having more or lessthan ve levels or code depths. It is, therefore, further to beunderstood that the invention is to be limited only in accordance withthe scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. An opener for cylinder locks comprising in combination, a supportingmeans engageable with a cylinder lock, means attached thereto forconsecutively manipulating individual tumblers of the said lock, and ashim slidably attached'to the said supporting means and progressivelymovable with respect to the said manipulating means whereby the saidtumblers are severed.

2. An opener for cylinder locks comprising in combination, a supportingmeans engageable with a cylinder lock, a pick movably attached theretofor consecutively manipulating the individual tumblers of the said lock,and means slidably attached to the said supporting means forprogressively retaining| the tumblers in the position previously set bythe said pick.

3. An opener for cylinder locks comprising in combination, a supportingmeans engageable with a cylinder lock, a pick movably attached to thesaid supporting means for consecutively manipulating the individualtumblers of the said lock, and a shim slidably attached to the saidsupporting means and progressively movable with respect to the saidmanipulating means whereby the said tumblers are severed.

4. A code finder for cylinder locks of the multiple tumbler type,comprising in combination a barrel having a guide engageable with acylinder lock, a pick movable on the said guide for gauging the code ofan individual tumbler, indicia on the said pick for designating itsstation within the said lock, and indicia on the said barrel fordesignating the code of the individual tumbler manipulated by the saidpick.

5. A code nder for cylinder locks of the multiple tumbler typecomprising in combination, a barrel having a guide engageable with acylinder lock, means on said barrel for consecutively manipulating theindividual tumblers of the lock, indicia on the said manipulating meansfor designating the tumbler station, indicia on the said barrel fordesignating the code of the tumbler, and a shim slidably attached to thesaid barrel progressively movable with respect to the said means, andconsecutively severing the said manipulated tumblers designated by thesaid indicia.

6. A code finder for cylinder locks of the multiple tumbler typecomprising in combination, a barrel having a guide engageable with acylinder lock, a pick movably mounted in the said barrel forconsecutively manipulating rthe individual tumblers of the lock, indiciaon the said pick for designating a tumblerr station, indicia on the saidbarrel for designating the code of the tumbler manipulated by the saidpick, and means attached to the said barrel progressively movable withrespect to the said pick for progressively severing the manipulatedtumblers designated by the indicia whereby the lock may be opened andits code simultaneously determined.

'7. A code nding key for cylinder locks of the multiple tumbler typecomprising in combination, a barrel having a portion insertable into thekey slot of a cylinder lock, a slide supported by and movable withrespect thereto in a direction along the line of the tumblers in saidlock, a pick having points on the said slide engageable with the saidtumblers, a shim slidably mounted on the said barrel for consecutivelysevering the tumblers, the said shim being progressively movable withrespect to the said pick, indicia on the said slide for indicating thetumbler station of the pick Within the said lock, indicia on the Y saidbarrel for designating the point on the pick a severed tumbler is thenengaging, and indicia on the said barrel for indicating the station ofthe last tumbler thus severed whereby all the tumblers in the lock maybe opened and coded simultaneously.

8. A code nding key comprising in combination, a barrel, the said barrelhaving a recess therein, a guide thereon, a slot therethrough eX-tending from the recess to the guide, and indicia thereon; a nut insidethe barrel, the said nut having a threaded section at one end, anaperture at the opposite end and a collar between the said ends; aholder, the said holder attached to the barrel and having a ilange forretaining the said nut revolvably within the barrel at the collar, thesaid holder having indicia thereon; a slide, the said slide movablyengageable with the threaded end of the nut and having indicia thereonprojecting outwardly through the aperature of the nut, the said slidehaving a stop and a pick on the end opposite the indicia and movable inthe said guide; a pointer attached to the said nut and readable on theholder indicia, the said nut having a sleeve readable on the indicia ofthe slide; a shim adapter slidably mounted on the said barrel. readableon the indicia of the said barrel and having a pin for checking the stopof the slide; and a shim removably mounted in the said adapter, wherebythe individual tumblers of a cylinder lock may be consecutively andprogressively opened and their codes simultaneously determined.

9. In a device of the character shown and described, an opener forcylinder locks, indicia thereon for methodically revealing the code of atumbler lock, and means for simultaneously opening the lock thus coded.

l0. In a code ilnding key, a slide consisting of a stem, indicia on oneend of the stem, a Stop on the other end of the stem opposite theindicia,

a nger extending forward of the stem below the said stop, and a pickhaving asurface embracing key code points on the end of the said inger.

l1. In a code nding key, a slide consisting of a stem, a pick formanipulating tumblers of a lock, and indicia on the said stem fordesignating the tumbler being picked.

HOWARD ABRAMS.

